My Last Five Pins

Wasn't sure what to write about so I thought it would be cool for all of you NOT on Pinterest (see why you should join here) to see what I've been loving. To sum it up I'm going to show you my last five pins! Here we go!

Mackin Ink

1) Seriously, why don't we have danger music? It would be so cool! Just think about it. You're walking down the street and the music from JAWS starts up. Besides the fact that you're probably terrified at that point and have no idea what's about to happen, I feel like the music would lighten the mood a bit - I'd probably scale a wall or something...

House to Home

2) I love this idea for a headboard! So cute. Eliza (if you're reading this) (Eliza is my sister if you're reading this and you're not Eliza), wouldn't this be a cool idea for a headboard for you guys?!? Love!

Fellow Creatives

3) I want this. I want it baaaaad.

A Bushel and a Peck

4) A favorite things party. Seriously, why didn't I think of this? Here's the story from Pinterest: A Favorite Things Party- My friends have started a great tradition of throwing a "Favorite Things" party twice a year. A week before Baby M was born, we gathered at my friends home for the Spring party (they also have a Winter party in early December). Funny enough, I think this may be the only photo of my pregnant belly. Here's how it works: Each person brings their favorite thing (anything you like.. your favorite lip gloss, favorite kitchen tool, favorite gift wrapping supply, a gift card for your favorite frozen yogurt, etc.). It can't cost more than $6, and each person brings five of the same thing. When you arrive at the party, you write your name on five slips of paper and throw them in a big bowl. The bowl is passed around, and each person takes five names (making sure you don't pick your own.. or two of the same name). One at a time each person introduces their favorite thing and then reads the five names they picked from the bowl, passing out their gift to those five guests. After everyone at the party has presented their favorite thing, each person should end up with five gifts to take home. It's always interesting to see what people choose, and some guests have started to bring a notepad and pen to jot down what people love (this is how I was introduced to Trader Joe's Sea Salt Chocolate Caramels, which are nearly my undoing each winter).

The Fancy

5) I don't know how well this would actually work, but just think how cool you would look pulling it out of your suitcase on a trip? Or maybe even using it in the car on a trip? Now there's a fancy idea!

What have YOU been pinning lately?

A Wreck

In February, we had some crazy weather. Not crazy tornado-every-night-for-two-weeks weather, but you know, winter crazy weather. Like snow. And coldness. It was so bad we got off work for a few snow days (hooray!) I am like a small child in the fact that I cannot get my excitement together to act like a grown up when I have a snow day. It's why John loves me.

Anyway, this story takes place after the snow had melted a bit and we had started back to work. After one particularly long day, with the sky darkening quickly, I ran to my car. We park on the top of a deck, so there was still quite a bit of snow on there that hadn't melted all the way. I got into my car. Put it in reverse. Backed up while looking at my awesome rear-view camera. And I heard a crunch. Assuming it was a large pile of frozen snow under tire, I continued backing up. Then I noticed the car to my left. I had hit it. Great.

Really, it wasn't that bad!

I left a note and left. It was freezing. That weekend, I went out of town. I kept my phone on me, waiting for an anxious phone call from the owner of the vehicle, but it never came.

I waited. 

And waited.

And waited.

Nothing.

So life continued. Sure, I had a little scrape on my newly purchased Nissan, but heck I could live with that. I celebrated Valentines Day. I got a dog. Moved out. Started a new blog.

Then yesterday (yes, yesterday) I got the call. 

"Hi, Kati? Yes, you hit my car?" I was a little irritated that this was happening so I rudely said, "Like...TWO MONTHS AGO???" The guy was really nice, saying he hadn't thought the repairs would cost much. $20 maybe. But that yesterday he took it in and it was $150. $150!!!!

So I'm meeting him today to write him a check for the damages. I'm going to write it soooo slowly because I have no money right now and this is just icing on the cake. 

That's really it. Nothing fun to write about or inspiring. Just ramblings.

Wishful Thinking

I have nothing coming up anytime soon to warrant a wish list, but I'm okay with that. This is more of a wish thing anyway. I've been thinking for awhile how badly I'd like to get a nice camera. Mostly because I love nice pictures. And the creative bug in me just wants to be able to recreate stuff like that so badly!

Canon Digital Rebel - one of many that is peaking my interest.

I've always used point-and-shoot Canon cameras in the past, and I love them. But I feel like they're only really good for a "take a picture of some girls at a party and load it onto facebook" instead of "take a picture that looks like art and that you want to show off." Yes I want to take photos that look like art.

Why would I ever consider doing this? Well I don't have kids (unless you count Ella) so that's not the answer. I guess I'd just love to be able to break out a camera and get a nice quality image. Plus, think about it. Every good blog out there has good pictures. People like good pictures and crappy ones just don't always win in the grand scheme of things.

I'd love to take a few photography classes at some local places here in town. I always love taking a class and learning a new thing - what a great way to expand your horizons. And I would love to take pictures for people for a little income on the side.  I can just see myself as a photographer!

So what do you think? Should I do it?

Link Love

I wanted to share a few things I've been dying over in blog land the past few weeks. I'm always amazed at what I find online and am so eager to get to work doing my own renovations! Wish I had more freedom in my apartment, but I figure this is a good time for me to start brainstorming what I'd like to do once I have a home of my own.

I am so in love with this hutch that Just A Girl redid. Can you believe she found this for only $60 on Craigslist? It looks so chic and fresh with just a paint job!

And would you not DIE to work in an office like this? I am so in love with A La Mode's home office renovation. It is delicious. I especially love the built-ins on the back wall. What I wouldn't do for a space like this!

I thought this was a great idea for hanging jewelry. Right now, I have a cute little hanger, but it looks a little too teenager-ish for me. This makes your jewelry look like art! 

Nilerturk

Here's a great (creative) idea from a blog I found: A gift of 1 date a month for a year. She gave it to her husband for Christmas. Every month, they pick a night out of the month and open the date! Inside is a surprise that they've never done before. What a fantastic idea!

Find Joy in the Journey

Sorry my post isn't longer. Life is a little hectic right now (when is it not?!?) so I feel like I've been slacking. But don't worry I've got lots of great stuff planned so hang on to your horses! Catch up with you soon.

New Year's Resolutions (an update)

As some of you may know, in 2010 I made a New Year's Resolution to learn to make cakes and to blog about it too (if you didn't know that and want to check out my journey, click here). In 2011, I decided to take it to another level and made four New Year's resolutions. But this year, they are all about growing up and living life.

1. Take control of the moolah money situation - Back in December/January, I was spending way more money than I needed to. In order to accomplish this task, I started saving up over half my paychecks each month and putting them in my savings account. It was way easier to do this then, since I lived with my parents. Now that I'm living on my own, I find it harder to save money. To help out, I babysit a few times a week and try to use that money to do "fun" things, like going out to dinner with John, or going grocery shopping.

2. Move out of parent's house - I moved out March 20 (!!) into my own apartment (!!) and am loving it. Although I have zilch money now-a-days, I am so excited and thankful for the experience of living paycheck to paycheck. I know that sounds so silly but I think life is all about taking chances and growing up a little.


3. Get a dog - Well, we know this one is completed! I brought Ella home with me on February 18th, 2011, when she was just 8 weeks old. She was so tiny then - only 2 pounds! Now she is a beast and weighs a whooping 5.75! Hah!

This is Ella on her first night with us. She was so tiny!

4. Maintain weight - In August of 2010 I started Weight Watchers and I LOVE it. I lost 20 pounds and want to make sure I stay under my goal weight. So far, so good but with summer fast approaching, I think I really need to lay off the chocolate-covered pretzels. They are my FAVORITEEEEE....

Okay, this is me in high school. Don't judge. Just thought you might need a visual of the chocolate-covered pretzels. You know, in case you didn't know what I was talking about...?

Luckily, I stopped at four resolutions. But I am pretty happy with how well I've been doing on all of them. What about you? Have you been keeping up with your resolutions too?

My Living Room (as it is now)

Guess I'll start off my new blog by showing you a few of the things I've doing in my new apartment. After taking some crappy pictures (sorry – I'd like to get a nice camera but they cost a little too much dough for this blogger) I realized that my apartment doesn't look nearly as good as I originally thought. I suppose these will be my "before" pictures that I can look back on and giggle at.

This is my apartment living room. I can't paint my walls, so I'm stuck with the beige but I decided to add accents of blue/turquoise/yellow. The red blanket (that you see my scary-looking puppy perched on) obviously doesn't match but it is so comfy I can't help but continue using it. My couch is brown leather and I got it, along with two reclining chairs, for less than $400 bucks in great condition! Cha-ching!

I chose the yellow because it has been my latest obsession. If you couldn't tell already by coming to my blog. It's just so fun and cheery, don't you think? I thought the blues and turqouises would really compliment it.

Here's a breakdown of the room:

Last week, I found this beauty in a boutique in Little Rock. It's made from recycled glass and is HUGE! I'm still not sure where I'm going to put it but I knew I would regret not buying it for $50.

Finally, I got inspired and did a DIY painting for above the couch. The painting below was my original inspiration, found in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine:

Also, can I just say that the photos for this spread were TO DIE FOR? I love the cozy feeling that is accomplished, and the way the decorator layered her styles. Especially loving the white chair with the black and white pillow. Great contrast and everything is just AH-MAYZING.

Anyway, that painting was where I started. I bought a canvas on sale from Hobby Lobby ($24 minus 30%) and 9 small bottles of paint there too ($1 each on sale). I painted it one day after work and have fallen in love with it. Even though it looks NOTHING like the painting I started with, I really love it. Turned out better than expected, so I suppose we'll have to see if I can do some more stuff. One thing I would love to have would be some texture but I figure I can always go back and add to this later. Here's the painting:

Well, hope everyone is having a happy Monday!

Future Bambino Names

My best friend Natalie sent me a picture the other day of a postsecret postcard.

It really made me chuckle....And then promptly text her all the names that are mine. Like Jack. That's the only one I want to share because quite honestly I don't want any of you millions of readers to steal my names either.

When we got Ella (our dog), John and I had many-a-discussion about her name. I wanted to name her so many things. Arrow, at first. Then Belle, then Piper, then Lady, Lola, Theo, Ivy, Tess, Chaco, Zula, and on and on. Finally, I settled on the perfect name: Nella. I loved it. It's simplicity and uniqueness. I loved the way it rolled off my tongue and just fit.

Unfortunately, the people I work with (God love 'em) didn't feel the same way. "That's not a real name," they said. Which brings me to question:

What makes a name?

My sister's name is unique: Marinna. Is that a "real" name? Some people might say that a real name becomes real once it is used. In that case, all I would have had to do would be to proclaim my dog's name to be Nella, and it would be. But I didn't.

Why you might ask? John didn't like Nella either. Booooo. He wanted Bella. But since Twilight is such a huge thing right now and I'm not that into Twilight (that's right, I said it) I nixed that idea (not to mention every other baby that's poppin' out these days is named Bella). So we settled on the perfect compromise. Ella.

Anyway, that is my rant. Not sure where I was going with that one, but aren't you just so glad you stuck around for the end? I thought so.

Have You Heard of a Little Thing called PINTEREST?

Okay. I have a new obsession. It's called Pinterest and I am in LOOOOOVE. Seriously, it rocks my socks. And it may or may not be the whole inspiration behind this blog.

I was always that girl who found stuff online and, if I liked it, would grab a quick screen shot and email it to myself. But seriously, who has the time to do that? With Pinterest, you simply sign up, and any photo you see (whether it be from a blog, online store, facebook, whatever!) you can "Pin It." From there, the photo goes into your Pinterest account and saves it for you. Here's a look at some of the things I've been inspired by lately...

And a little close-up if you can't quite see anything...

Not only has it helped me discover my "style," but it's an awesome way to get creative and connect with friends. If your friends join, you can follow each other and see what they've been pinning too. Too cool.

Okay, enough about my new LOVE. Get on over to the website and ask for an invitation yourself!

Let's Try This Again, Shall We?

Before I started my cake blog, I started this blog. Color Me Kati. I wanted to have somewhere to write my thoughts, but it soon became apparent that my life's not that interesting. So there's your warning.

Because cake baking got a bit old after awhile, I've decided to start another blog. Not because I think I'm particularly read-worthy, but simply to keep up with myself once I get older like my mother and start to forget things. Love you, mom.

It is here that I'd like to begin to chronicle my adventures: my job as a graphic designer, my role as a puppy parent to Ella, and most importantly, my newfound passion for creating a homey living space.

Alright. So there's my intro. Good enough. I'm planning a few posts as we speak that should be pretty fun. Gotta get my crap-camera out and take some pics of my projects and then upload we go! Stay tuned.